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Future Classroom Ambassadors

In 2014 it was decided to launch and provide ongoing support for a pan-European network of Future Classroom Ambassadors. The concept of Future Classroom Ambassadors is an important mechanism to leverage the results of EUN projects like iTEC, Living Schools Lab, and Creative Classrooms Lab, as well as future projects that will run under the general umbrella of the Future Classroom Lab.

The network of Future Classroom Ambassadors will help ensure that EUN does not lose the momentum that has been built up communities of teachers. The Ambassadors will also give on-going support to those teachers and school leaders who, following a visit to the Future Classroom Lab in Brussels, have been inspired by the FCL concept and have returned home to set up their own version of the Lab within their own schools.

Meetings and activities

The kick-off workshop took place in the Future Classroom Lab in Brussels on 6-7 November 2014 and included Lead Ambassadors from 11 countries nominated by Ministries of Education (or other organisations). At the launch of the network there were Lead ambassadors from Austria, Belgium FL, Czech Republic, Denmark (2), Estonia, Finland, France, Portugal, Norway, Spain, Sweden. Another workshop took place in March 2015.

During the workshops and additional online meeting the ambassadors got an induction training on different EUN projects: The Future Classroom Toolkit, eTwinning, Outcomes of Living Schools Lab, Creative Classrooms Lab, eSafety, Video Communication in education (Polycom), and European Schoolnet Academy.

Ongoing/Future work

As for the future steps, the focus will be on the expansion of the network in the local country and the creation of local network of ambassadors. In some countries this network is already getting shape (e.g. Portugal, Finland). Also the process of localisation should continue, as well as teacher training and pedagogical consultancy. A special focus will also be put on local Future Classrooms (i.e. flexible learning labs). Since so many of the ambassadors are connected to a local 'learning labs', they will be involved with a pedagogical programme that will be built around the network of learning labs. The idea is to organise dynamic, spatial webinars to share pedagogical content related to a Future Classroom Lab.

Ben Bastiaensen, Belgium Flanders

Teacher and international coordinator at Talentenschool Turnhout; Lecturer in initial teacher training at Horito CVO

As Flemish FCL Ambassador I'm focusing on disseminating EUN project results through activities on social media and presentations at several conferences. There has been a particular focus on the Future Classroom Lab and Coding.

Markku Lang, Finland

Project Manager and Visual Art Teacher in Oulu University Teacher Training School FCL Ambassador in Finland

As an FCL Lead Ambassador I am sharing information of different projects and teacher trainings run by European Schoolnet. In Finland we have also a working group of Finnish Future Classroom Ambassadors and they are mentoring teachers and facilitating workshops in their own networks.

Inga Kõue, Estonia

Head of the Content Development, Innovation Centre, Information Technology Foundation for Education (HITSA)

Our role is to promote and share best practices of usage of ICT tools and robotics pedagogically through several web seminars and school visits. In collaboration with teachers we create and experiment learning scenarios that support the use of technology.

Xavier Garnier, France

Mathematics and Maths-in-English Teacher at the Lycée Pilote Innovant International (LP2I)

As an Ambassador I support local FCL initiatives such as scenarios creation using the toolkit with focus groups in Poitiers and across the country. I am also leading a project in which we create the french version of the Future Classroom Lab, reflecting on learning situations and spaces.

Ildikó Csordás, Hungary

Sulinet referent at Educational Authority

We help Hungarian teachers access the results of European Schoolnet led projects. We aim to provide professional development opportunities for teachers in topics related to pedagogical planning, digital skills' development, mobile/1:1 learning and online safety.

Zehra Sayin, Turkey

ICT teacher, teacher trainer, eTwinnnig TR NSS, Turkey MoNe

We focus on teacher training opportunities by the eTwinning Online Learning Platforum to the Turkish Teacher. As a FCL Lead Ambassador, my role will be to ensure collaboration activities Turkish educators, and MoNE and the European School Net international projects.

Rethinking teaching and learning

The Future Classroom Lab is created by European Schoolnet, its supporting 30 ministries and industry partners to help visualise how conventional classrooms and other learning spaces can be easily reorganised to support changing styles of teaching and learning.